Andrea Fisher Maril grew up in rural Iowa and has gardened in Santa Fe, southwest Iowa, upstate New York, south Texas and Oklahoma. She previously spent two decades at the helm of Big Brothers Big Sisters Mountain Region and has academic degrees in cultural anthropology (BA from Grinnell College, MA from University of Iowa) and sociology (PhD from Oklahoma State University).
As Executive Director, Andrea guided the organization through a period of transition, partnering with the Board, staff and constituents to determine best next steps for the Institute. She appreciates the opportunity to apply her skills in strategic planning, program expansion and board development to the Institute’s mission of supporting farmers, the Farmers’ Market and local food.
When not at the Institute or in her garden Andrea is entertained by her three kids and their spouses, six grand-kids and two Australian Shepherds.